National Popular Vote wins in New Mexico house

The National Popular Vote plan passed the New Mexico house today by a comfortable 41-27 margin. HB 383, sponsored by Rep. Mimi Stewart, D-Albuquerque, is part of a national effort to ensure that the winner of the popular vote wins the presidency. Once states totaling at least 270 electoral votes enact the legislation, their electoral votes would go to the winner of the national popular vote in all 50 states and the District of Columbia.

New Mexico's house is the 23rd state legislative chamber to pass the proposal out of the 49 states where bills have been introduced. If the Senate approves, and Gov. Bill Richardson signs the bill, New Mexico would be the fifth state to approve the legislation. Hawaii, Illinois, Maryland and New Jersey have already passed the legislation. That is 50 electoral votes, or 19 percent of the votes necessary for the legislation to begin.

National Popular Vote summarizes recent state polls on public support for reform of the current broken Electoral College system. See: